Cotton goods with linenlike effect and process of producing said effect



Patented Dec. 19, 1922.

UNH'ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDUARD HEBERLEIN, OF WATTWIL, SWITZERLAND;

COTTON GOODS WITH LINENLIKE EFFECT AND PROCESS OF PRODUCING SAID EFFECT.

N0 Drawing.

To all zc/mm. 1'1- muy concern:

lie it known that I, EDUARD HEBERLEIN, a citizen of the Swiss Republic,and resident of \Vattwil. Canton of St. Gall. Switzerland, haveinventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Cotton Goods with llinenlikeEffect and Processes of Producing Said Effect, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to cotton goods with lineulike effect and processof producing said effect.

The objects of the invention are to produce cotton goods havingpermanent linen-- like effects; that is to say, cotton goods, webs andyarns having the characteristics of linen, and a process or processes bywhich such goods may be made by the treatment of cotton with certainreagents or chemicals.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appearfrom the following description setting forth preferred examples ofprocessing such goods, and the invention will be pointed out moreparticularly in the appended claims.

When cotton is treated according to the process of United States LettersPatent No.

' 1865.082, granted to me May 7, 1918, i. e.,

with caustic soda of the concentration used in mercerization and attemperatures below ()0 the cotton acquires a transparent appearance.Transparent effects are also produced by processing fine cotton goodsaccording to the process of United States Let-' ters' Patent to Georgesl'leberlein. Nos. 1.1444355, 1,201,961 and 1,288,885.

While this production of permanent transparent effects by'the treatmentof thin cotton goods was known by said prior patents, they did not teachthe production of the linen-like effects. According to the presentinvention the coarse, thick cotton webs and the corresponding yarnswhich are not capable of being transformed into transparent webs andyarns. acquire when treated according to theprocess of said UnitedStates Letters Patent No. 1,265,082, not a transparent appearance, but acompletely novel effect. Such coarse cotton goods (yarns and webs) areprofoundly changed. They acquire a certain lustrous effect and a certainresistance to change of character by washing. and also acquire aconsiderable increase of strength. These new properties which such goodsac Application filed June 30, 1922. Serial No. 572,032.

quire when processed according to this invention, constitute as a wholean effect very accurately resembling linen, which is quite differentfrom the transparent effect taught by the'aforesaid prior patents. Inthe usual and well-known so-called linen finish produced on cotton websthere is merely produced a temporary sticking together of the fibers,and the effect is completely lost after the first washing. g

T heremarkable behavior of the cotton goods which could not have beenprophesied by knowledge of said prior patents, may be explained bysaying that although the chemical reactions on the individual cottonfibers infine and in coarse yarns are the same, the effect as a whole isentirely different, according to the constitution of the yarn or web.Itis not possible to draw a sharp boundary between the transparenteffect and the new linen effect. However, it may be affirmed that yarnsor webs made therefrom which are of the order of fineness of the EnglishNos. above 80 exhibit translucency or border on transparency, whereasall coarser yarns, that is to say, those under N0. 80, exhibit thetypical linen effect. It is to be remarked that according to the qualityof the spun cotton, and in the case of webs according to theirthickness, the dividing line between the linen effects on the one handand the transparent effects on the other hand. may vary somewhat fromthe yarn number above given.

In my saidLetters Patent No. 1,265,082 it was pointed out that the saidpermanent transparent effect could be obtained if the cotton fabric wastreated for a sufficient period with caustic alkali cooled below 0. C.and of such concentration as would mercerize the cotton at the ordinarytemperature, that is to say, of at least 15 deg. B.

specific gravity. It is also pointed out in .treatment of the goods withthe said cold caustic soda as set forth in said patent, could be used toreplace the mercerization treatments at ordinary temperature in theprocesses described in the other aforementioned patents.

It has also been found here in the production of linen effects that, aswas the case in myv said process for producing transparent effectsaccording to Patent No. 1,265,082, variations in effect could beobtained accordingly as the textile material is under tension during thecold mercerization, or is allowed to shrink more or less. Enhanced lineneffects may be achieved if the coarse textile material mercerized at lowtemperature is-subjected to the action of a suitable concentratedmineral acid, i. e., such for example as concentrated sulfuric acid ofover 50.5 B. specific gravity or sulfuric acid of a lesser strength at alow temperature,'or, if the textile material is first treated withconcentrated sulfuric acid of over 50.5 B. specific gravity, or sulfuricacid of a lesser strength at a low temperature, and then treated withthe caustic sodaat low temperature. The sulfuricacid may also be used ata low temperature, say for example around 0 C. in orderthat the durationof its action may be extended, particularly in the case of thick textilegoods. The operation of cold mercerization in the place of mercerizationat room temperature, in thesense of the said United States LettersPatent No. 1,288,885, may also be used; that is to say, the treatmentwith caustic soda at low temperature may occur once or several times inalternation with treatments of the acid. Finally, the usualmercerization at normal temperature may be combined with the coldmerceri: zation in the sense of my co-pen'ding application for LettersPatent Serial No. 520,264, so as to enhance the lustrous effect.

The said coarse cotton goods when processed according to my presentinvention acquire or are converted into goods having a typical truelinen effect. The web or cloth when thus treated and as compared to thesaid, goods before treatment, becomes harder, stiffer, has more of asheen, and appears smoother and more glass-like, seems cooler to thetouch and acquires greater tensile strength, all of which arecharacteristics of linen, and as contrasted with the softer and morefuzzy, uneven looking cotton goods character or improved. by subjectingthe tex-- tile material after the chemical treatments, .to mechanicalfinishing operations, such as Example I.

Boiled cotton yarn, of English yarn N o. 2, is impregnated with causticsoda lye of 30 Baum specific gravity at 10 C. for one giinute, thenstretched, washed, bleached and ried.

Example 2.

Mako-twist (twist-thread made of Egyptian cotton) of English yarn No.50/2-fold, which has been bleached and mercerized under tension innormal manner, is impregnated with caustic soda lye of 28 Baum specificgravity at 13 0., for one and a quarter minutes, then washed and dried.

.Jwamp le 3.

Bleached cotton fabric having 21/21 threads per one-quarter French inchand of English yarn No. 30/30 is impregnated with caustic soda lye of 30Baum specific gravity at 10 C. for one minute, then washed and dried.

E wample 4.

Bleached cotton fabric having 19/ 17 threads per quarter French inch,and of English yarn N o. 38/44, is impregnated with sulfuric acid of 52Baum specific gravity for 5 seconds, washed and then treated withcaustic soda lye of 27 Baum specific gravity at 12 (3. for two minutes,and finally washed and dried.

Example 5.

Thick- (closely woven), bleached cotton fabric having 25/27 threads perone quarter l rench inchand of English yarn No. 48/50 is impregnatedwith caustic soda lye of 31 Baum specific gravity at -10 C. for, one

minute, then washed and then treated for 15 seconds with sulfuric acidof 54 Baum specific gravity at 5 C. It is finally washed and'dried.

Example 6.

Lye-washed cotton fabric having 12/12 threads per one quarter Frenchinch, and of English yarn No. 12/12, is impregnated with caustic sodalye of 20 Baum specific gravity at 5 C. for half a minute, and thenwashed; during 10 seconds it is then drawn through sulfuric acid of 51Baum specific gravity at +5 C., again washed and finally treated withcaustic soda lye of 25 Baum specific gravity at -10 for 5: of a minute;it is then washed. bleached and dried.

121mm pic '7.

Bleached cotton fabric having 1(3/10 threads per one quarter French inchand of English yarn No. 20/20, is treated with caus tic soda'lye of 32Baume. specific gravity at 8 for 1; minute and then mercerized undertension in normal manner, washed and dried.

Having thus described my .invention in accordance with various preferredillustrations of the manner in which the process may be practiced onvarious characters of goods what I claim is:

1. rocess for producing a permanent linen-like effects in cotton goods,which comprises taking for treatment cotton goods (yarns and webs)constituted of threads whose. fineness does not exceed English yarn No.80, and treating such goods with caustic alkali of at least 15 Baume. ata temperature below 0 C.

2. Process for producing. permanent linen-like effects in cotton goods,which comprises taking for treatment cotton goods (yarns and webs)constituted of threads whose fineness does not exceed English yarn N0.80, treating such goods with caustic soda at low temperature, thenstretching the goods and washing it.

3. Process for producing permanent linen-like effects in cotton goods,which comprises taking for treatment cotton goods (yarns and webs)constituted of threads whose fineness does not exceed English yarn No.80, and subjecting the goods to a plurality of ch mical treatments, onea treat-v ment with caustic alkali atlow temperature to chemicallystructurally change the fibers. and another a treatment with a differentcellulose solubilizing reagent which will dif- 5. Process for producingpermanent linen-like eftects in cotton goods, which comprises taking fortreatment cotton goods (yarns and webs) constituted of threads whosefineness does not exceed English yarn No. 80. and subjecting the goodsto a. pluanother a treatment with concentrated sulfuric acid.

0. Process for producing permanent linen-like effects in cotton goods,which comprises taking for treatment cotton goods (yarns and webs)constituted of threads whose fineness does not exceed. English yarn No.80, and subjecting the goods to a plurality of chemical treatments, onea treatment with caustic soda of at least l5 ,Baume at a temperaturebelow 0 and another a treatment with sulfuric acid above 50; Ilaume, andwashing the goods after said acid treatment.

7. Process for producing permanent linen-like effects in cotton goods,which comprises taking for treatment cotton goods (yarns and webs)constituted of threads whose fineness doesnot exceed English yarn No.80. and subjecting the goods to a plurality of chemical treatments, onea treatment with caustic soda of at least 15 Baume at a temperaturebelow 0 and another a treatment withconcentrated sulfuric acid, andwashing the goods after each of said treatments.

Process for producing permanent linen-like effects in cotton goods.which comprises.taking for treatment cotton goods (yarns and webs)constituted of threads whose fineness does not exceed English yarn No.80, and subjecting the goods to a plurality of chemical treatments, onea treatment with caustic soda of at least 15 llaume at a temperaturebelow 0 6., and another a treatment with concentrated sulfuric acid. andstretching the goods while being acted. upon by at least one of saidreagents.

9." Process for producing permanent linen-like effects in cotton goods.which comprises taking for treatment cotton goods (yarns and webs)constituted of threads whose fineness does not exceed English yarn No.80, aml subjecting the goods to a plurality of chemical treatments. onea treatment with caustic soda of at least 15 Baum at a temperature below0 C, and another a.

ment with caustic alkali of at least 15- Baum at a temperature below 0and another a treatment with a suitable concentrated strong mineralacid, and washing the goods after each of said treatments.

11. Process for .producing permanent linen-like effects in cotton goods,which comprises taking for treatment cotton goods (yarns and webs)constituted of threads whose fineness does not exceed English yarn No.80, and subjecting the goods to a plurality of chemical treatments, onea treatment with caustic alkali of at least 15 B-aum at a temperaturebelow 0 (1., and another atreatment. with sulfuric acid at lowtemperature.

12. Process for producing permanent linen-like effects in cotton goods,which comprises taking for treatment cotton goods (yarns and webs)constituted of threads whose fineness does not exceed English yarn No.80, and subjecting the goods to a plue rality of chemical treatments,one a treatment with caustic alkali at low temperature, and another atreatment with a suitable concentrated strong mineral acid to produce inconjunction with said caustic alkali treatment, said linen-like effect,applying said treatments alternately in such manner that at least one ofsaid treatments takes place between two applications of the othertreatment. l

'13. Process for producing permanent linen-like effects in cotton goods,which comprises taking for treatment cotton goods (yarns and webs)constituted of threads whose fineness does not exceed English yarn No.80, and subjecting the goods to a plurality of chemical treatments, onea treatment with caustic alkali of at least 15 Baum at a temperaturebelow 0 C., and another a treatment with concentrated sulfuric acid,applying said treatments alternately in such manner that at least one ofSaid treatments takes place between two applications of the othertreatment, and washing the goods after each acid treatment.

14. Process for producing permanent linen-like effects. in cotton goods,which comprises taking for treatment cotton goods (yarns and webs)constituted of threads whose fineness does not exceed English yarn No.80, and subjecting the goods to a plurality of chemical treatments, onea treatment with caustic soda of at least 15 Baum at a temperature below0 C., and another a treatment with sulfuric acid of over 50% Baum,applying said. treatments alternately in such manner that at least oneof said treatments takes place between two applications of the othertreatment, and washing'the goods after each treatment.

- 15. Process for producing permanent linen-like effects in cottongoods, which comprises taking for treatment cotton goods (yarns andwebs) constituted of threads whose fineness does not exceed English yarnNo. 80, and subjecting the goods to a plurality of chemical treatments,one a treatment with caustic soda of at least 15 Baum at a temperaturebelow 0 (3., and another a treatment with concentrated sulfuric acid,and a third a mercerization treatment at ordinary temperature. j I

16. Process for producing permanent linen-like effects in cotton goods,which comprises taking for treatment cotton goods (yarns and webs)constituted of threads whose fineness does not exceed English yarn No.80, and subjecting the goods to a plurality of chemical treatments, onea treatment with caustic alkali of at least 15 Baum at a temperaturebelow 0 C., another a treatment with sulfuric acid at low temperature,and a third a mercerizing treatment at ordinary temperature.

17. Process for producing permanent linen-like effects in cotton goods,which comprises taking for treatment cotton goods (yarns and webs)constituted of threads whose fineness does not exceed English yarn No.80, and treating such goods with caustic alkali of at least 15 Baum,at-a temperature below 0 (1., and then subjecting the goods to at leastone mechanical finishing operation.

18. Process 3 for producing permanent linen-like effects in cottongoods, which comprises taking for treatment cotton goods (yarns andwebs) constituted of threads whose fineness does not exceed English yarnNo. 80, and stibjecting the goods to a plurality of chemical treatments,one a treatment with caustic soda of at least 15 Baum, at a temperaturebelow 0 C., and another a treatment with concentrated sulfuric acid, andthen subjecting the goods to at least one mechanical finishingoperation.

19. Cotton goods (yarns and webs) constituted of threads whose finenessdoes not exceed English yarn No. 80, and having a permanent linen-likeeffect produced by chemical treatment of the goods, comprising 10 atreatment with caustic alkali of at least 15 Baum, at a temperaturebelow 0 C.

20. Cotton goods (yarns and webs) constituted of threads Whose finenessdoes not exceed English yarn No. 80, and having a 21. Cotton goods(yarns and webs) constituted of threads whose fineness does not exceedEnglish yarn No. 80, and having a permanent linen-like effect producedby chemical treatment of the goods, one a treatment with caustic soda ofat least 15 liaume. at a temperature below 0 (1, and

another a treatment with concentrated suli'uric acid.

22. Cotton goods (yarns and webs) constituted of threads whose finenessdoes not exceed English yarn No. 80, and having a permanent linen-likeet'fect produced by chemical treatment of the goods, one a treatmentwith caustic soda of at least 15 Baum, at a temperature below 0 (3., andanother a treatment with concentrated sulfuric acid, and washing thegoods after each of said treatments.

chemical treatment of the goods, one a treatment with caustic alkali ofat least 15 Baum, at a temperature below 0 C., and 20 another atreatment with sulfuric acid at low temperature.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

EDUARD HEBERLEIN.

